‡ Promise 13: Rejected ‡

-As told by Lily-

he next afternoon, Jody drops me off at home, but she can't stay. She has to work a shift at the bookstore. She promises to help me study more, tomorrow, while giving nervous glances towards Keith's house. "Okay," I shrug, "Pick me up in the morning?" "Yeah." she nods and drives off, nearly speeding. I still feel bad that she's still afraid, but happy that we were friends again.
I hear movement coming from Keith's yard and walk the side of the house, heading for the backyard of my house. Keith is standing there in his yard, admiring the full lawn bags, stuffed with yellows, oranges, and reds. "I see you've finished your chore/game." I tease, standing on the other side of the hedges. "Miss Lily." he sighs, not turning around to face me. "So," I said, shyly, "What project will you do next?" "Have you ever seen that movie," he asks, still not turning around, "The one named, 'Misery'? I am starting to worry, now."
Instantly, I began to boil to his hint. "Arrogant bastard!" I yell, "Like I said before, you're not that great of a writer! You're not even good enough to be kidnapped or tortured, you hack!" He now turns to face me, with mock hurt, "Oh, my! That's so mean!" "Tch, whatever!" I growl, "You're just trying to be rude now! If you want me to go away so damn bad, then fine! I'm leaving and I'll never speak to you, jerk! Happy now?" His face turns sincerely somber now. "No," he says, "I'd rather it be a amicable agreement, to not speak to each other. But... you're so stubborn.
"And so easy to piss off too! That was so easy, I didn't have to really try! You humans are easily manipulated, especially the children, it makes me laugh every time on how pathetic you all are." I grab a rock from the yard and tossed it, aiming for his head, but it went far left. He blinked at the new rock in his yard. "Wow," he said, blankly, "You throw like a little girl." Before I knew it, my backpack was on the ground, and one of my legs were hanging over the hedge. I was going to kick his ass! But the vicious growl and jump from Talon, snapped me back to my senses.
"Talon!" yells Keith, "Stop! Who asked you to jump into my fight? I was looking forward to seeing what strength the girl had!" Talon flicked his tail at Keith and went into the house, as if to say, "See if I ever try to help you again!" With the cat/creature gone, I had time to think about what Keith just said. "So," I frown, "You want me to kick your ass?" "Hmm," he grins, darkly, "You mean try to. I thought it would be interesting to see you try. I'm bored again." "You sick sonnafa-" I growl, "So, you'd fight a girl? What a low-life!"
He gave me a dark and all-knowing look. "What?" he says, "Is it right for a young girl to jump onto the property of and adult male and attack him? Isn't that a low-life, also? In your world, beating the crap out of women and children is wrong. But isn't it equally wrong for a child to strike an adult, their elder?" "You're suppose to be the 'bigger man'." I said, folding my arms, "Since, I'm just a child, a little girl, a useless and weak human. What harm could I really do to you?"
"So," he shrugs, "I'm suppose to stand there and take the punches and kicks, just because I'm the strongest? That is weak thinking. No wonder humans die so fast and are so frail. If you know that I am stronger, maybe it's you who should think twice about striking. If you rely on others to follow this 'moral' game, you're sure to win a very short life. Rest assure, if you ever decide to attack me, I will fight back, without hesitation." "Oh, shut up!" I frown, "You just like to hear yourself talk!" "Perhaps," he sighs, "Or maybe I'm just giving you fair warning."
We stare at each other for a second in silence. "You look very silly," he says, suddenly, "Sitting there on that hedge." Not knowing it, I was perched a bit on the hedge, one leg still dangling over on his side. He moves so fast; one second he was five feet away from me, the next he's face to face with me. He gently picks me up and places me back on my side of the yard. I blush like crazy, still feeling the ghost of his warm hands around my waists. "Now," he nods, "Let's handle this like adults. Let's agree to never speak to each other."
"But we're neighbors!" I frown. "So?" he asks, one brow up, "What does that have to do with anything?" "What is it?" I said, frustrated, "You don't want any friends? You want to die alone? Just the mean old writer and his weird cat?" "Yes." he said, "I want all of that. Or maybe... I already have friends, better friends, than you. Maybe I find you painfully boring and dull, a nerd, and I just don't want to have anything to do with you." "Tch, demons." I frown, walking away and storming into the house.
I startled my mother, coming through the kitchen door, as she was making a call on the wall phone. "Oh, Lily." she gasps, "Good, you're home. I need you to help me with a few orders." "I have to study." I said, leaving the kitchen in a hurry. "But," she said, "It'll only take a- hello?" The person on the other end answered and I made my fast escape. I slide into my room and flopped down on my bed, still angry.
Later that night, after brushing my teeth, I noticed a light sparkling in my window. It was Keith with a flashlight, heading into the woods, towards his hidden kingdom. I thought about following and instantly slapped myself in the face. "No!" I yell at myself, "Don't you dare! Didn't you learn your lesson from before? You almost lost your friends and almost got yourself killed! If you follow, you'll just piss him off again! Besides, he doesn't even like you!"
I then noticed that I had my black spiked boots on my feet and my pajama bottoms was replaced by black jeans. I don't remember putting this stuff on! I must have done it, while yelling at myself, not realizing it. Somehow, I'm not able to help myself. I sneak out of the house, over the fence, and into the woods. I'm cursing at myself for being so stupid, yet my legs speed up in the direction of the hidden hell-world. As I reach the place with interlocking trees, Keith isn't there, but something else is.
A tall dark figure wearing a dark bellowing cloak, with a wooden mask, twisted in a horrifying smile. I've seen him before, in the hell-world, his dagger ready to slice into our flesh. My heart begins to pound. There is no visible face behind this mask, so I can't tell if it sees me. I hold my breath and try not to panic, hoping to back away. "It seems," it's booming voice said, causing me to yelp, "That I owe the young king an apology. You see, I told him he was foolish to think any of the humans would return here. He insisted that the dark haired one might. I had laughed in his face!
"'No, my Lord. Not even the most mad of humans would never dare to come back, to face their certain death. Once escaped, they know of horrors they dare not want to see again!' And his reply was, 'But the dark haired girl is beyond mad'. And I thought he was being over dramatic! He placed me here in front of the gate, for three days now, and I waited, bored. I just knew the dark haired girl would not come back here! But, I was wrong... it just took some time."
"I-I," I gulp, "I d-didn't mean t-to... I'm just..." "Unfortunately," the creature sighs, "I can't kill you. Unless, you try to pass the gate. Then I have permission!" Even without a face, I could feel the greed of this thing, hoping I would try to cross. A chill hit me, as if someone threw a bucket of icy water into my back, my heart pounding. "I'm not going to pass the gate." I said. "Are you sure?" he asks, taunting, "Your famous writer is in there, waiting for you. Go ahead and pass!" I frown, crossing my arms, "Does that work much?" "Not really," he sighs, "I probably shouldn't have told you about the terms of killing you." "Duh!" I said, rolling my eyes.
"W-well," he sputters, "It's been a while since I've killed humans! I forget that they hang onto every word you say. A-and I was so shocked, because the dark haired girl actually showed up!" "I do have a name," I sigh, "It's Lily." The figure said nothing. "What's yours?" I prompted. It stayed silent. "Hello?" I frown, waving a hand to get it's attention. "He did tell me that the dark haired girl likes to make friends with demons." he said, finally, "But I thought he was making that up. And he's right... it is annoying!" "Tch," I frown, "Whatever!
"So far, I've learned that demons are rude and jerks." "Then why make friends with them?" he shrugs. "You sound like Mr. Rolmir." I frown. "Then he's truly a wise ruler." nods the creature. "Why won't you tell me your name?" I ask, almost whining now "If I say your name, will you be unable to have my first born child, when I'm queen?" "How juvenile!" he frowns, folding his arms, unveiling thin pale arms. I grin to myself, amused that this creature knew of fairy-tales.
"You're crude with your jokes." he says, "The same as our dark Lord. I can see your attraction to him, despite all logic and common sense, because you two are similar in some ways. But you must understand, demons do not mingle with humans." "Yeah," I frown, "Well, your king is half human! You seem happy to obey him!" "Yes," he said, somber, "It is a tragedy that we're willing to deal with, for his demon side is so strong. If you were half demon, we wouldn't have a problem with you either. But, you're not and never will be. So, move on!"
"Fine." I growl, "I don't want to hang out with you freaks, anyway!" "Yes, you do." he laughs, "But it's not going to happen. It's unnatural. Humans and demons don't become friends, ever! Understand? Now go home, dark haired girl, before the dark Lord finds you here!" "Whatever," I hiss, "I'm leaving!" I headed back home, feeling rejected.